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Adraneda C, Tan YC, Yeo EJ, Kew GS, Khakpoor A, Lim SG. A critique and systematic review of the clinical utility of hepatitis B core-related antigen. J Hepatol 2023; 78:731-741. [PMID: 36586590 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is a new biomarker for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) whose performance has not been critically or systematically appraised. Herein, we performed a systematic review to determine its clinical utility. METHODS We evaluated the biological pathway of HBcrAg and performed a systematic review of PubMed for clinical trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies that evaluated the clinical utility of HBcrAg. The effectiveness of HBcrAg in predicting HBV-specific clinical events (e.g. HBeAg seroconversion, phases of CHB, HBsAg loss, treatment response, and relapse after stopping therapy) was examined using receiver-operating characteristic curves. The correlation coefficients of HBcrAg with HBV DNA, quantitative HBsAg (qHBsAg), HBV RNA, and cccDNA were summarised from published studies. Median values were used as estimates. RESULTS HBcrAg consists of three precore/core protein products: HBcAg, HBeAg, and a 22 kDa precore protein. HBcrAg assays have been associated with false-positive rates of 9.3% and false-negative rates of between 12-35% for CHB. The new iTACT-HBcrAg is more sensitive but does not reduce the false-positive rate. A PubMed search found 248 papers on HBcrAg, of which 59 were suitable for analysis. The clinical performance of HBcrAg was evaluated using AUROC analyses, with median AUROCs of 0.860 for HBeAg seroconversion, 0.867 for predicting HBeAg(-) hepatitis, 0.645 for HBsAg loss, 0.757 for treatment response, and 0.688 for relapse after stopping therapy. The median correlation coefficient (r) was 0.630 with HBV DNA, 0.414 with qHBsAg, 0.619 with HBV RNA and 0.550 with cccDNA. Correlation decreased during antiviral therapy, but combined biomarkers improved performance. CONCLUSIONS HBcrAg has a mixed performance and has a poor correlation with HBsAg loss and antiviral therapy, hence HBcrAg results should be interpreted with caution. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) has been used to assess management of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) without a systematic and critical Sreview of its performance. Our finding that HBcrAg had a false-positive rate of 9% and a false-negative rate of 12-35% raises concerns, although larger studies are needed for validation. A systematic review showed that the performance of HBcrAg was variable depending on the CHB endpoint; it was excellent at predicting HBeAg seroconversion and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis (vs. chronic infection), which should be its main use, but it was poor for relapse after stopping antiviral therapy and for HBsAg loss. HBcrAg results should be interpreted with considerable caution, particularly by physicians, researchers, guideline committees and agencies that approve diagnostic tests.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yong Chuan Tan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ee Jin Yeo
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Guan Sen Kew
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Atefeh Khakpoor
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Seng Gee Lim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Biopolis, Singapore.
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Spearman CW, Dusheiko G, Jonas E, Abdo A, Afihene M, Cunha L, Desalegn H, Kassianides C, Katsidzira L, Kramvis A, Lam P, Lesi OA, Micah EA, Musabeyezu E, Ndow G, Nnabuchi CV, Ocama P, Okeke E, Rwegasha J, Shewaye AB, Some FF, Tzeuton C, Sonderup MW. Hepatocellular carcinoma: measures to improve the outlook in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 7:1036-1048. [PMID: 35810766 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(22)00041-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is most prevalent in young adults (median 45 years [IQR 35-57]). Overall, outcomes are poor, with a median survival of 2·5 months after presentation. Major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma are hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus, aflatoxin B1 exposure, and alcohol consumption, with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease slowly emerging as a risk factor over the past few years. Crucially, these risk factors are preventable and manageable with effective implementation of the HBV birth-dose vaccination, treatment of chronic viral hepatitis, provision of harm reduction services, and by decreasing aflatoxin B1 exposure and harmful alcohol consumption. Primary prevention is central to the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in poorly resourced environments. Effective screening and surveillance programmes with recall policies need to be implemented, because detection and curative management of hepatocellular carcinoma is possible if it is detected at an early stage, even in countries with minimal resources, with appropriate upskilling of medical personnel. The establishment of centres of excellence with advanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities within countries should improve hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes and assist in driving the implementation of much needed systematic data systems focused on hepatocellular carcinoma to establish the accurate burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Such data would support the public health importance of hepatocellular carcinoma and provide a strong basis for advocacy, programme development, resource allocation, and monitoring of progress in reducing mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wendy Spearman
- Division of Hepatology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Geoffrey Dusheiko
- University College London Medical School, London, UK; Kings College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Eduard Jonas
- Surgical Gastroenterology Unit, Division of General Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Abdelmounem Abdo
- National Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Ibn Sina Hospital, Alamarat, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mary Afihene
- Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Lina Cunha
- Gastroenterology Unit, Maputo Private Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Hailemichael Desalegn
- Department of Internal Medicine, St Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Chris Kassianides
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Leolin Katsidzira
- Internal Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Anna Kramvis
- Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Olufunmilayo A Lesi
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Eileen A Micah
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Gibril Ndow
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Chidi V Nnabuchi
- Asokoro District Hospital, Nile University Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Ponsiano Ocama
- School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Edith Okeke
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria
| | - John Rwegasha
- Gastroenterology Training Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Abate B Shewaye
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Fatuma F Some
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Christian Tzeuton
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Douala, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Mark W Sonderup
- Division of Hepatology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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